White: UFC-Reebok deal ‘ended up being an absolute home run’

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Wild

Zi Nazi
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Dec 31, 2014
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Throughout the majority of the UFC’s existence, fighters held the freedom to banner their respective apparel sponsors. Along with that came the extra revenue they earned from the brand names they supported.

That all changed in 2014, when the UFC decided to have Reebok as their major apparel sponsor. Fighters weren’t happy about it, to say the least, but company president Dana White is completely satisfied with this deal they put in place.

“It ended up being an absolute home run,” White told TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter of the UFC-Reebok deal. “I love the look, I love the feel of everything that we’ve done with Reebok and uniforms are…


Dana White: UFC-Reebok deal ‘ended up being an absolute home run’
 

Enock-O-Lypse Now!

Underneath Denver International Airport
Jun 19, 2016
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Yeah, for the UFC. Wasn't a homerun for Reebok, and certainly wasn't one for the fighters.
Lol! Was thinking the exact same thing ...

It was an absolute disaster for fans and fighters and only benefited Dana and Company.

Let’s not forget how much time and attention to detail Reebok put into the apparel:







 

jimmy boogaloo

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Nov 15, 2017
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outrageous to say how glad he is of a deal that has held down overall fighter pay for 5 fucking years, while all the missing money gets turned to snow on his selfish fucking driveway. pwned.
 

delightone

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Jan 14, 2015
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The Weird thing is most fighters and i'm talking about the new wave of fighters that got in after Reebok just don't know any better at the moment it's an extra few K's for them.

The veterans have felt most of the pain and after years of getting fucked over it is just the new standard at the moment.
 

Chromium

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Oct 10, 2016
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I'm far from convinced it was actually better for the UFC.

They've had fighters retire or jump ship over this thing, and certainly made very little money outside of select few stars who'd have made them lots of merchandise money regardless.

If the UFC had changed the existing sponsor tax to be a straight up actual tax, as in a percentage, like let's say 10%, they might have potentially made more money directly. The athletes also wouldn't have to worry about being stiffed if all in-ring sponsorships were paid directly to the UFC, because anyone who stiffs the UFC is probably getting blacklisted.

Really, Dana almost has to say the Reebok deal was great for them. What's he gonna say "yeah this thing was a total fucking disaster"? Unless they're looking to get out of direct sponsorship entirely, as in all the stuff plastered all over the cage too, it's in their best interests not to shit all over Reebok.

On Reebok's end, this deal has clearly done nothing for them and they have been putting in the bare minimum effort for about two years now. They've also re-upped very few individual deals, possibly just McGregor and Khabib at this point. I don't really see this thing being renewed, and I have no idea who else is gonna wanna take there place.